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What happens when a mom tired of dishes, waste, and feeling alone decides to build something better? In this episode of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with Pallavi Pandey, founder of DTOCS, a brand creating classy, compostable tableware from rescued palm leaves, and DTOCS Consulting, a full-service Amazon growth partner. Pallavi is a Stevie Gold winner, a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow, and an Inc. fastest-growing female founder. Pallavi shares how her childhood in India inspired her mission, why she believes legacy is what we role model every day rather than what we leave behind, and how she built Portland Brown Mommies, a free 2,000+ member community for South Asian women, after feeling isolated as a new mom. They also talk about giving back through sewing machines, school scholarships, and support for families in Portland, and why filling your own bucket first is not selfish, it is necessary. If you are a mom founder, a parent seeking connection, or anyone who wants to build with purpose, this conversation is for you. Connect with Pallavi Pandey on LinkedIn: Pallavi Pande Connect with Pallavi on Instagram: @pallavipande DTOCS: DTOCS Portland Brown Mommies on Facebook The School of Becoming: theschoolofbecoming.com Connect with Luba on Instagram: @lubapatlakh Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ Chapters 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 03:15 From supply chain to starting over 07:45 Why single-use waste is personal 09:15 Palm leaves, banana leaves, and cultural roots 14:00 Giving back in India and Portland 17:45 Building Portland Brown Mommies 21:30 Fill your bucket first 23:15 Role modeling as legacy 27:30 The Indian ethnic clothing donation box 30:30 Rapid fire: Zumba or wine?

Maybe the reason you're stuck isn't that you're not working hard enough. Maybe you're trying to create a new life while wearing an old identity. In this episode of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with Tracy Litt, founder of the School of Becoming and creator of Neuro Identity Evolution, to talk about the identity shift and what it takes to make it. Tracy shares her journey from single mother on food stamps to VP of HR to leader in personal transformation, and how she learned that success begins with how you feel on the inside. Together they talk about the lie successful women tell themselves about rest, why confidence comes after courage, how the nervous system keeps us tied to what's familiar, and the difference between worry and fear. They also explore why spirituality and science belong together, how connection and regulation help us show up for the people we love, and how breathwork can be a simple first step toward change. Whether you're a parent, a business owner, or someone who looks successful on paper but feels disconnected, this conversation is a reminder that you're not broken, you're becoming. Connect with Tracy on Instagram: @thetracylitt The School of Becoming: theschoolofbecoming.com Connect with Luba on Instagram: @lubapatlakh Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 02:00 Who Tracy was before she became Tracy 04:00 The wake-up calls and redefining success 09:00 The biggest lie successful women tell themselves 13:30 What is the School of Becoming? 17:00 Breathwork, regulation, and kids’ nervous systems 22:00 Why spirituality gets misunderstood 25:30 Fear, worry, and why confidence comes after courage 34:00 Why a hug matters: connection and self-worth 39:00 Rapid fire and the first tiny step to begin becoming

What if the skills you already have, the degree you earned, and the experience you built were already enough? In this episode of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with Hannah Boeck, business coach, creative strategist, founder of Cued Creative, creator of Scale Smart Academy, and host of the Scale Smart podcast. Hannah shares how she went from a burned-out speech therapist struggling to pay rent to building a business around her strengths, and how she now helps therapists create income that does not depend on trading every hour for pay. Together they talk about burnout in the caregiving professions, aligned growth, pricing with confidence, building multiple income streams, and setting boundaries while raising a family. They also get honest about mom guilt, defining what “enough” looks like, and why your worth is never tied to your business. Whether you are a therapist, a business owner, or a parent who feels stuck but knows you are capable of more, this conversation is for you. Connect with Hannah on Instagram: @cuedcreative and @thehannahboeck Scale Smart podcast: https://www.cuedcreative.com/podcast Scale Smart Academy : https://www.cuedcreative.com/scalesmart-academy Connect with Luba on Instagram: @lubapatlakh Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba’s website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ [00:00] Welcome to The Growth Lab [00:52] Meet Hannah Boeck [02:36] From interior design to speech therapy [06:17] The notebook list that changed everything [08:58] Burnout and trading time for money [10:53] Building Scale Smart Academy [18:08] Money stories and setting your rates [21:47] Facing fear around rate changes [ 30:05] What aligned growth really looks like [31:44] Growth seasons, mom guilt, and boundaries [42:19] Aligned or misaligned: rapid fire [44:23] Monetizing your expertise without reinventing yourself [49:51] First steps if you feel stuck

This one is for the mom nobody talks about, the one who keeps the entire family moving. She knows which child needs new shoes, when the dentist appointment is, and which kid has been coughing for three nights. She answers work emails while making dinner and still ends the day wondering why it feels like she is not enough. In this solo episode of The Growth Lab, Luba speaks directly to her about the invisible mental load, the guilt, and the quiet exhaustion of caring so much for so long with almost no one noticing. Luba unpacks the feelings underneath "I am failing," from grief and identity loss to hypervigilance and loneliness, and offers a gentle reframe: stop measuring yourself against the outcome and start measuring yourself against your intention. If you are a mom who does everything and still feels like it is never enough, this honest, encouraging conversation is the reminder that you matter too. Connect with Luba on Instagram: @lubapatlakh Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 01:30 The mom nobody talks about 06:00 The invisible mental load 11:00 Grief, identity loss, hypervigilance, loneliness 16:00 The standard nobody agreed to 20:00 Doing everything right vs. real life 24:00 The reframe: intention over outcome 27:00 You matter too

For so many children in foster care, everything they own is carried in a trash bag, and the message it sends is that they are not seen, not valued, not important. In this deeply moving episode of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, who lived that reality and decided to change it. Rob grew up in the foster care system, and when his own adopted children arrived with those same trash bags, he set out to restore dignity to children entering care. Comfort Cases has since delivered hundreds of thousands of backpacks filled with pajamas, toiletries, books, and comfort items to kids across all 50 states and beyond. Together they talk about empathy, legacy, resilience, and how the smallest acts of intention can completely change how a child sees themselves. Rob shares what children in foster care truly need, how to raise kids who give rather than take, and the simple ways any family can make an impact. If you have ever felt less than, or you want to raise more compassionate children, this conversation is for you. Comfort Cases: comfortcases.org · [email protected] Rob Scheer on Instagram: @rob_scheer Connect with Luba on Instagram: @lubapatlakh Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 02:00 The trash bag that started it all 06:00 Feeling less than in the foster system 10:00 Teaching empathy and legacy to our kids 15:00 What children in foster care really need 21:00 Comfort Cases and the dignity of a real bag 26:00 Adopting Alex and building a family 30:00 Simple ways anyone can help 34:00 A message to a child in foster care

Sometimes the most meaningful businesses are not built in boardrooms. They are built in hospital rooms. In this Season 5 premiere of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with Morgan and Josh Weiser, the parents behind TUBzi, an innovative bathing assistant born out of one of the hardest seasons of their lives. When their twins arrived three months early, the family spent more than 100 days in the NICU and navigated nine surgeries before their son was two and a half. What started as a way to safely bathe their healing child became a product designed to make bath time easier, safer, and less stressful for families everywhere. Together they talk about parenthood, resilience, entrepreneurship, and mental health, and how some of life's hardest moments can unexpectedly become our greatest purpose. Whether you are building something of your own, raising kids through a tough chapter, or you simply need a reminder that you can get through hard things, this conversation is for you. Learn more about TUBzi: https://tubzitime.com/ Connect with Luba on Instagram: @lubapatlakh Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 01:30 Meet Morgan and Josh 04:00 Life in the NICU 09:00 Nine surgeries and coming home 14:00 The basement experiment that became TUBzi. 20:00 Designing around real kids 27:00 Protecting your mental health in survival mode 32:00 Parenting twins vs. launching a business 36:00 Advice for a parent in the hospital right now

Most people know Allen Genkin from the dance floor, but dance was never really the story. In this deeply personal episode of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with professional ballroom dancer and Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro competitor Allen Genkin, whose family has been family to hers since the day he was born. Behind the television lights and the trophies is a story of extraordinary resilience: losing his mother at just 15, growing up with ADHD and as an ESL kid, and battling cancer as a young adult. Allen opens up about how dance became his therapy, what kept him moving through his darkest chapters, and why he chases the dream instead of the accolades. Together they talk about grief, identity, perseverance, and what parents raising kids with ADHD, loss, or adversity most need to understand. This one is about turning pain into purpose, dreaming after loss, and finding the courage to keep dancing through it all. If you have ever faced a hard chapter, or you love a child who has, this conversation is for you. Allen Genkin on Instagram: @allengenkin Allen Genkin on TikTok: @iamallengenkin Connect with Luba on Instagram: @lubapatlakh Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 01:33 Meet Allen Genkin 02:36 Growing up as family 05:10 From hockey to dance 07:46 ADHD, ESL, and finding his footing 12:35 Losing his mom at 15 14:13 Dance as therapy 19:01 Beating cancer 22:19 Chasing the dream, not the trophies 28:08 Raising resilient kids 30:55 Lightning round + advice to a struggling kid

It's 8:30 at night. Your child spikes a fever, or takes a fall off the playground, and suddenly you are weighing urgent care, the ER, the pediatrician, or waiting until morning. Every parent has stood in that exact spot, phone in hand, unsure which door to walk through. In this episode, Luba sits down with Dr. Daniel Kogan, owner and founder of MedX Urgent Care, to unpack what urgent care actually handles for kids, from newborns to young adults. Dr. Kogan shares which fevers in young infants need attention right away, what to watch for after a head injury, why so much chest pain turns out to be non-cardiac, and why no family should ever feel embarrassed for getting something checked out. His message lands for every parent. You know your child better than anyone, and a fair, thorough look is always worth it. Listen in for the clarity to trust your instincts the next time a moment turns scary. Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:00 Welcome to the Growth Lab 01:42 Meet Dr. Daniel Kogan 04:07 What urgent care actually handles for kids 07:57 The most unexpected cases he has seen 08:55 When scary symptoms turn out to be minor 10:58 Fever guidelines for babies 11:21 Warning signs after a head injury1 2:02 Why you should never feel embarrassed to come in 16:42 Why he chose to open an urgent care 21:04 Where to find MedX Urgent Care

You know you were made for more than a packed caseload and an endless to-do list, but figuring out how to actually build the business can feel like guesswork. In this special business edition of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with Ebony Green, owner and CEO of The Speak Center, creator of the SLP Business Suite, and founder of the Made for More movement, for an honest look at what it really takes to grow a speech practice on purpose. Ebony breaks down her three phases of intentional acceleration, from stabilizing as the operator, to building systems that run without you, to stepping into legacy and longevity as a CEO. She shares the client who almost made her quit, why she finally stopped trying to do everything herself, and the shift from delegating tasks to delegating decisions. If you are an SLP who knows there is more but you are figuring it out in real time, this conversation is your permission slip. Ebony on Instagram: @slpbizqueen (personal), @theslpbusiness_suite (business) Made for More conference: @madeformoreslp Ebony Green on LinkedIn The SLP Business Suite (her online education platform, home of the School Contracting Masterclass): https://theslpbusinesssuite.teachable.com Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:02:52 Meet Ebony Green 00:03:54 From proving herself to leading on purpose 00:10:35 The school job that pushed her to start her practice 00:13:36 The client who almost made her quit 00:18:20 Phase one, stabilizing as the operator 00:21:05 Why school contracts made sense 00:24:38 Did your cash register ring today 00:29:04 Phase two, building the architecture 00:31:52 Delegating decisions, not just tasks 00:46:33 Phase three, leadership, legacy, and longevity

Somewhere between the parenting books, the expert opinions, the evaluations, and the 2 a.m. Google searches, a lot of parents stop trusting their own instincts. In this solo episode of The Growth Lab, Luba explores how that quiet loss of confidence happens and why a parent's gut feeling deserves more weight than it usually gets. Through the story of a mom who sensed something was off with her son years before anyone listened, Luba shows why intuition matters, how confidence is built through small everyday actions rather than certainty, and what it looks like to reconnect with the most important parenting tool you already have. She also opens the doors to The Parent Pathway, her community where parents find honest conversations, real support, and resources without judgment or shame. Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:56 Welcome to the episode 01:25 Why so many parents lose trust in themselves 03:36 The mom who knew something was off at age two 07:53 Parenting has become impossibly loud 10:32 Why Luba created The Parent Pathway 17:08 Your intuition is not magic, it's data 18:35 How comparison destroys your confidence 21:25 Losing her mom and what children actually remember 24:52 How to start trusting yourself again 27:18 An invitation to join The Parent Pathway

In this episode of The Growth Lab, Luba Patlakh sits down with Alex Lopiccolo, known as the King of Swings, a certified occupational therapy assistant and sensory integration specialist who has spent the last decade designing sensory gyms and teaching hands on workshops around the world. Alex shares how his own childhood experience with sensory sensitivities shaped his approach to movement based therapy, and the two dig into why regulation has to come before behavior and learning can improve. They talk through practical bedtime strategies, how to balance screen time with movement, and what parents can do at home to help kids get the input their bodies are craving. Alex also opens up about building a mission driven career, avoiding burnout, and what he hopes kids carry with them long after therapy ends. Check out Alex's website: sensorydigest.com Alex's Instagram: instagram.com/sensorydigest Alex's Facebook: facebook.com/SensoryDigest/ Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parental Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:00 – Meet Alex Lopiccolo, the King of Swings 04:00 – Growing up with sensory sensitivities and using sports as therapy 05:10 – Finding purpose as an inventor and occupational therapist 09:54 – The role of movement in regulation, learning, and behavior 14:02 – Leading by example as a parent 22:49 – Bedtime routines and calming techniques that actually work 25:12 – Avoiding burnout and building a mission driven career 33:58 – Balancing screen time, video games, and movement 42:15 – Rapid fire questions with Alex 43:30 – Where to find Alex and Sensory Digest

This episode is one of the most personal conversations on the podcast, as host Luba Patlakh opens up about losing her own mom to cancer and how that loss shaped her view of advocacy and leadership. Luba sits down with Katia Conte, founder of the Daniela Conte Foundation, who shares the story of her daughter Daniela's four year battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. Katia walks through the moment everything changed, the years of treatment, relapse, and resilience, and the heartbreaking decision to keep fighting even when answers ran out. The conversation covers what real support looks like for a family in crisis, how the Daniela Conte Foundation helps cover rent, bills, and medical costs for families in active treatment, and how Katia turned unimaginable grief into a mission that has already helped hundreds of families. For anyone who has wondered what genuine support looks like for a family facing a child's serious illness, or who is looking for a way to help, this conversation will stay with them. Learn more about the Daniela Conte Foundation here: https://www.danielacontefoundation.org Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parental Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:00 - Introduction to the episode and why this conversation is personal for Luba 01:55 - The day everything changed, pumpkin picking and the first signs something was wrong 04:00 - Rushing to the hospital and the diagnosis no parent is prepared for 07:44 - What it feels like to hear the words "your child has cancer" 10:52 - Starting chemo immediately and the realities of treatment 17:21 - The cancer relapses and the family faces a harder road 20:56 - Daniela's final battle and the days leading up to her passing 22:33 - How grief became the spark for the Daniela Conte Foundation 30:36 - How the foundation supports families financially and emotionally during treatment 44:18 - Advice for anyone who feels called to start something meaningful after loss

Is your child a late talker, and are you wondering whether to wait it out or pay closer attention? In this solo episode, Luba breaks down the real truth about late talkers, the version you won't find on social media. She explains what a late talker actually is, why understanding language is not the same as being able to communicate, and how speech delays ripple out into behavior, confidence, learning, and relationships. You'll hear the surprising connection between language and executive functioning, the red flags worth watching for at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months, and how to tell the difference between a child who needs a small nudge and one who needs real support. Most importantly, Luba reminds you that trusting your instincts is enough. You don't have to earn the right to ask questions about your own child. Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com Join the Parental Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 01:13 The truth about late talkers, the real version 01:50 What a late talker actually is 02:24 The biggest myth, "as long as they understand, they're fine" 03:43 Why speech delays turn into behavior challenges 05:48 The hidden connection to executive functioning 07:41 What gets missed most, your child's confidence 11:13 Red flags to watch at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months 13:06 A true delay versus needing a little nudge 14:13 Why early support prevents problems, it doesn't create them

Most of us were raised on "clean your plate," "that's a bad choice," and "you're so lucky you can eat that." Then we grow up and wonder why food feels so loaded. In this episode I sit down with Lea Rifkin, a non-diet registered dietitian and founder of Kindred Nutrition Co., to talk about how early food messaging shapes our kids, and how we can rewrite that story while we heal our own relationship with food. We get honest about the comments that slip out without us realizing it, why labeling food good or bad tends to backfire, and what it actually looks like to guide your child around food without controlling it. Lea shares the difference between always foods and sometimes foods, why sitting down together matters more than any perfect plate, and the signs that it's time to reach out for support instead of waiting it out. If you have a picky eater, a snack grabber, or a little one already picking up messages about their body, this conversation will help you feel steadier at your own table. Want to work with Lea? Check her out here: https://kindrednutritionco.com Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ Pre-order Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com 00:00 Welcome and meeting Lea Rifkin 02:52 Why our food stories start in childhood 06:09 What non-diet really means 13:09 How the words we use shape the way kids eat 18:14 The phrases parents don't realize are harmful 27:50 Bodies are like trees, and guidance versus control 37:41 Family meals and modeling around the table 42:36 When to seek help and why not to wait

When childcare falls apart, everything falls apart with it, work, stress, and the whole rhythm of family life. In this episode of The Growth Lab, Luba sits down with Beth Heyer, founder of Babysitting Connection and mentor to women building service-based businesses across the country. Beth shares how a frustrating search for trustworthy sitters turned into a vetted, membership-based network now serving families in five cities, and why she's so passionate about ending the "mommy martyrdom" that tells parents asking for help is a weakness. Together they get into what makes childcare reliable rather than just available, how to protect both the families and the caregivers in any care system, and what families consistently misunderstand about the real value of trusted support. For any parent trying to build something meaningful while raising a family, this conversation reframes childcare as what it really is, the infrastructure that lets everything else hold together. Check out Babysitting Connection: https://babysittingconnection.com Follow Beth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebethheyer/ Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ Pre-order Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 02:07 How a frustrating sitter search became a business 05:10 Ending the mommy martyrdom, why asking for help isn't weakness 06:02 Turning childcare into a business and pivoting through COVID 08:00 The biggest challenges families face finding reliable care 11:37 What families misunderstand about good childcare 13:07 How Babysitting Connection actually works, membership and vetting 16:15 Protecting both the families and the caregivers 21:23 Starting a service business without shrinking yourself 28:23 Where Beth sees the future of childcare heading